India, Nov. 2 -- Sheer grace and steel are how the world saw former diplomat Ruchira Kamboj. Off duty now, the former Ambassador who was India's first female permanent representative to the United Nations is penning a new chapter with her memoir, On the World Stage: A Life in Diplomacy. Recounting how her father "embodied the quintessential Army officer" and left a deep imprint on her life, Kamboj shares, "I was only 16 when he left us suddenly. He was the one who gave me the dream and inspired me to join the Indian Foreign Service... My life as an IFS officer, and this book is an homage to him." The book traces milestones across nearly four decades of Kamboj's professional life, during which time India transformed from a country still finding its economic and diplomatic footing into a global power. Though she won arguments in rooms full of men primarily making decisions, she recalls feeling 'mom guilt'. "I would imagine most women would feel guilty because it is a very instinctive role that you love playing at home... I was fortunate to have the support of my mother-in-law and my mother, who looked after my daughter, an electrical engineer today," shares Kamboj, who also wrote about battling loneliness in unfamiliar postings. Despite the arduous journey, her writing remains crisp and nourishing. "Time is precious, not just mine but also of the reader," she says, adding, "The effort was to be as honest as one can."...